Word for word. From the Nations Capital to wherever you are, because the opinion that matters the most is your own. This is what democracy looks like. Cspan, powered by cable. Next, look at ways to regulate the commercial space industry testimony by federal officials from nasa, the faa, and the Defense Department. They will discuss the technological risks and safety challenges with commercial spaceflight, National Security, and global competition. Arizona senator, Kyrsten Sinema, chairs this subcommittee hearing. The subcommittee is now in order. Welcome everyone to a hearing on the u. S. Senate space and science this subcommittee is now in order. Welcome, everyone, to our hearing on the u. S. Senate base and sciences subcommittee. Thank you teach of our witnesses for their participation, today and thank you to our subcommittee Ranking Member schmidt for working with me on these issues and to chair cantwell and Ranking Member cruz for their collaboration. A thriving commercial space industry is essential for continued American Leadership of space innovation, which in turn advances critical Economic National Security and scientific interest. The new space economy presents exciting opportunities were visiting, living, working in space can become reality. I am proud that americas leading global efforts to safely advance the technology that enables its place Space Exploration. I am proud to see my home state of arizona leading the way in commercial space. Arizona is a shining example of how to build meaningful careers and innovations in the new space economy, thanks the Public Private partnerships at Arizona State university and University Verizon as well as the investment from Innovative Companies to produce space vehicles. To keep america on top, we must foster an environment that enables and encourages innovation without sacrificing safety. This will require congress to streamline authorization processes, enable a workable safety framework for in space operations, and clearly defined proper responsibilities for different government agencies. In october, the subcommittee heard from leading industry representatives and experts on the current Regulatory Environment and how it could be improved. Witnesses all emphasized the need to address Mission Authorization, the learning period, and other pressing matters while looking ahead to a future with unknown capabilities. The time for action is now. Competitor nations, including adversaries like russia and china, are making major space investments. Its imperative that a u. S. Framework establishes the norms for a workable International Business climate, promotes our National Interest, and serves as the model for others to follow. Commercial Space Companies are working right now to provide orbital and satellite services, mitigate orbital manufacturing space, deliver space tourism, and much more. The question of how regulation of the spacex of his will work, often referred to Mission Authorization, remains unclear. The White House NationalSpace Council released draft legislation in november to extend the abilities of transportation and commerce while providing authority between them. I am heartened that the administration is working on this critical issue, but the proposal contains numerous ambiguities, undefined terms, and grants of openended authority. Unfortunately, the council declined to attend todays hearing and answer questions on the proposal, but i hope to hear from them soon and gain clarity in future discussions. We cannot simply continue with the status quo that result in licensing delays, regulatory uncertainty, and inefficient uses of taxpayer dollars and private resources. The proper Regulatory Framework will both remove unnecessary burdens and provide the necessary certainty for the space industry to prosper safely now and into the future. For this to happen, we must keep Mission Authorization fully distinct from mission success. The governments job is to allow innovation, investment, and dreams to flourish while ensuring safety. We need a framework that relies on our greatest asset, our people, to push industry and the country forward. To succeed, we need a robust workforce equipped to support the commercial space ecosystem and im passionate about making sure americans and arizonans have rewarding careers to choose from when graduating from a certificate program, vocational school, or with advanced degrees. Encouraging Public Private partnerships, and leveraging the existing expertise and entities like nasa will be essential to ensure we have the engineers, technical experts, and Skilled Workforce to win the next entry in space. As i said in october, Congress Must take the same enterprising, pioneering approach to commercial space that has served us so well in earlier generations. I believe this requires a flexible Regulatory Environment able to attack the issues of today had on without compromising adaptability to the issues of tomorrow. Thank you. I will turn to Ranking Member schmidt for his opening statement. Thank you and thank you for working so diligently with me on these important issues. Thank you to our witnesses for joining us today. While we may not agree on everything discussed today, our agencies have been and will continue to be valuable to space efforts. As i stated before, missouri has blaze a trail in our nations path of exploration. St. Charles, missouri marked the beginning of lewis and clarks expedition to explore extension to the west. March, missouri produced edwin hubble, who fathered our nations expiration of distant galaxies. Missouri is home to 54 Companies Supply our nations civil commercial Space Missions. Space is been a Unifying Force for our nation, dating back to the space race with russia in the 1950s and 1960s. Then our nation rallied to meet the challenge of beating russia to the moon, culminating in Neil Armstrongs famous words, one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. America is engaged in the 21st Century Space race in which we compete with china. We face the challenge of landing on the lunar surface for china has the chance to plant its flag on the moon, claiming it as their domain. Fortunately, america has the pieces in place from an industry perspective to win this important challenge. However, regulatory ambiguity, and uncertainty standing in the way of truly unleashing our nations commercial Aerospace Industry capabilities. In the intensifying spacers of china, retaining u. S. Leadership is imperative not just for economic and security interest, but to ensure all nations follow appropriate rules and norms in space. As we contemplate new frameworks for space regulation , our policies must balance enabling the deployment of new technologies for commercial operations while ensuring safety , while sustaining a role as the preeminent leader in space. Currently, there are four key agencies who exercise authority or jurisdiction over space. The fcc, the department of transportation federal aviation Demonstration Office of commercial space transportation , ast, i was just going to give acronyms, nasa, and then fs. They put a small role, but for whatever reason, its in our nations space endeavors. As, at todays hearing, we are examining the role of some of these agencies responsible, whether or not the roles need to be refocused or changed to meet the demands of our nations rapidly evolving commercial space industry. I have already helped to lead those efforts, along with Kyrsten Sinema and others in the senate, with the launch Communications Act which streamlines the fccs commercial launch of the licensing process to provide a more certain and timely licensing process to keep pace with the launch and reentry demands with the commercial space industry. That bill passed the senate and we look forward to working with the house to get it signed into law. Recently in an attempt to address current regulatory uncertainty and confusion as it relates to federal policies for new and novel in space activity, known as Mission Authorization, the Biden Administration released proposal that would divide response abilities between the partners of transportation and commerce. Despite being met with opposition, the white house said the proposal ensures that our government will build a Regulatory Environment that supports commercial expansion to benefit all americans. I will make mention that the National Space council, which authored the ministrations proposal, was invited to todays hearing and is notably absent. Its disappointing they are not here to answer simple questions. Madam chair, its important that our industry has regulatory clarity and certainty as we focus our efforts in this committee on a commercials a spell. As we embark on this new frontier of Space Exploration, the stakes are profound. We must make the hard decisions, which may include creating new authorities for some agencies and reforming or eliminating authorities for others. Just as our nation did with sputnik and soviets cast a dark shadow on the earth in 1957, we must meet this moment. I stand ready to work with you and to bring forward balance, light touch policies that are not hindering American Ingenuity and innovation. Im eager to hear from our Witnesses Today to assist this committee in shaping policies that retain americas promise in space. I yield back. Thank you. I will introduce our witnesses. First we have nasa deputy edmund schrader, pam melroy, whose logged 429 hours in space, one of two women to command the space shuttle, and flu 6000 hours in the air force. She has served in leadership roles with the federal Aviation Administration and the defense advanced resource projects. You are recognized for your opening statement. Thank you. Check out well, Ranking Member cruz and Ranking Member schmidt, i am extremely pleased to be here and have the opportunity to appear today on what is a critically important topic. This is a really exciting time for space. Theres a lot going on, especially in commercial space, which is playing an increasingly Important Role in nasas Amazing Mission to conduct meaningful, Scientific Investigations throughout the universe. We are working to return to the moon and then pressing forward for the first humans on mars. We are unlocking the secrets of the universe with the James Webb Space Telescope and our vision for nasa is that we take on the hardest and most complex challenges that no one else can do. At the same time, the industry is ready, we are increasingly transitioning to commercially provided services where it makes sense. Let me give you a few examples. When nasa decided to retire the space shuttle, we needed a new way to transport astronauts and cargo, including Critical Science, to the internationals a station. Working with congress, the agency funded and authorized the development of new commercials based launch capabilities and spacecraft capable of carrying humans. Under this model, nasa and one of our commercial provider providers, spacex, weve launched a cruise to the space station from american soil. Spacex has launched three additional private human spaceflight missions, opening the door to a new private, commercial human spaceflight market. All of these launches are commercially licensed by our colleagues at the faa. As nasa looks to the future, we plan to build upon the success of commercial crew and cargo and leverage the tremendous progress of the commercial space industry. We are very excited. We expect the first two robotic commercial lunar landers, under nasas commercial lunar services, to launch in january, delivering Critical Science and Technology Payloads to the lunar surface. Nasa is one of many customers for these commercial Lunar Landings and by the end of the decade, commercial space stations will be on orbit, hosting nasa astronauts and other private activities. As nasa acquires more of these commercial Space Services to accomplish our mission, the agencys success is inextricably linked to the success of the commercial space industry. We did this by design. We did this by intent. Over the years, nasa has strategically fostered the growth of the commercial space industry, which has increased competition, lower cost, and accelerated innovation in the market. Our commercial space industry is the envy of the world. However, this innovation does raise important questions about who will authorize and supervise commercial space activities. We have to balance that amazing innovation and Economic Growth with protecting the space environment for coexisting users, like nasa, government activities, and future use. Foreign policy considerations and of course, National Security concerns. As nasa is increasingly a customer of commercial services, we need greater clarity regarding who is responsible for authorizing and supervising commercial space activities. This clarity is vital for our missions success. Thats why nasa is pleased that the National Space council recently put forth a recommendation to congress to make a logical extension of the authorities in the department of congress and transportation. To better enable the authorization and continuing supervision of commercial space activities. Important things, like orbital to orbital debris medication, commercial human spaceflight, the recovery and use of space resources. This proposal gives industry a clear path to provide on Orbit Services to nasa and other customers while protecting against interference with the governments own missions and interests, while ensuring also that space continues to be a safe place for all operators. The intent of the supervision is not to stifle or slow down industry but to work with industry in advancing commercial space. The space Industry Needs a clear, predictable, timely and flexible process to initiate nongovernmental space activities safely and successfully. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to discuss this important and exciting topic and answer your questions. Great, thank you. Our second witness is calvin coleman, federal Aviation Administration associated administrator for commercial space transportation that mr. Coleman has more than 25 years of experience at the faa informally worked for the u. S. Naval air systems command. You are recognized for your opening statement. Thank you. Distinguished members of the subcommittee, thank you for the invitation to be here, today , to discuss the important topic of promoting safety and innovation in the new space economy. The success of the u. S. Commercial space industry is critical to our nation. Likewise, clear, predictable, transparent, and right size regulation is also critical for continued leadership in space. The faa is strongly committed to ensuring safe commercial space activities in a manner consistent with nations priorities. This is why the department of transportation and the faa unequivocally stand in support of the administrations proposal of supervision of novel commercial space activities that puts forward a clear and pretty bowl Oversight Framework that will impose minimal regulatory burdens on u. S. Private sector actors in space. The proposal features a clear delineation of Regulatory Oversight roles and response abilities that leverages existing u. S. Departmental authorities and expertise. Specifically, the proposal logically extends the department of transportations existing human spaceflight responsibilities to include human spaceflight activities in space. This will ensure consistent, Single Agency oversight of human spaceflight activities throughout our missions full lifecycle from launch through reentry. Very specific grouping of activities to the department of transportation, which currently oversees u. S. Private secretary of transportation operations to win from space. Regulatory oversight clarity and process efficiency are important benefits garnered from this very common sense oversight construct. Over the last several months we together with our interagency partners have worked tirelessly and given careful and thoughtful over the last several mon